Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-27


his dearest hopes were realized. recoy-
ers rapidly both his health and spirits:
and soon double wedding takes place,
that makes pretty Ethel Villiers Ethel
RingWood and beautiful Florence Lady
Dynecourt.
a winter spent abro with his
charming bride completely restores Sir
Adrian to his former vigorous state,
and, when spring is browning all the
land with her fair flowers, he returns
to the castle with the intention of re-
manning there until the coming season
demands his presence IN town.
And now once again there is almost
the same party brought together at
Dynecourt. Old Lady FitzAlmont and
Lady Gertrude are here again, and SO
the gayeSt of the gay. Dora Talbot is
here too, somewhat chaStened and sub
dued both in manner and expression,
change so much for the better that she
finds her list of lovers to be longer now
than in the days of yore.
1t is an exquisite, balmy day in April.
The sun is shining holly without,
drinking up greedily the gentle shower
that fell half an hour ago. The guests,
who with their host and hostess have
been wandering idly through the
grounds, decide to go indoors.
ut was on a day like this, though in
autumn, that we first missed Sir Adj
rian," remarks some one in a half tone
confidentially to some one else, but hot
so low that the baronet could not hear
it.
Yes" he says quickly, "and it was
just over there"-pointing to clump
of shrubs near the hall door-"that I
parted with that unfortunate cousin of
mine"
Lady Dynecourt shudders, and draws
closer to her husband.
ut was a marvellous story" observes
a pretty woman who was not at the
castle last autumn, when what so near
~ proved to be a tragedy was being en-
acted; quite like legend or medi8-
val romance. Dear Lady DynecOurt
finding HIM was such happy finish to
it. must say | have always had the
greatest YeneratiOn for those haunted
chambers, so seldom to be found now
in any house. Perhaps my regard for
them is the stronger because l never
saw one"
"No?" questioningly. "WIl you come
and see ours noW?" says Sir Adrian
readily.
His wife clasps his arm, and pang
contracts her brow.
"You are not frightened now, sure
Typ" says Adrian, smiling at her very
tenderly.
Eyes, / am" she responds promptly.
"The very name Of that awful room I'M
nerves me. There is something evil in
it, [ believe. DO not go there"
'sI'll block it up forever if you wish
it," declares Sir Adrian; but. for the
last time let me go and show its ghost
ly beauty to Lady LaughtOn. | confess,
even after all that has happened, it
possesses no terror for me; it only re-
minds me Of my unpleasant kinSman."
Il wonder what became OF him." re-
marks BingWood. He's at the other
side Of the world, I should imagine"
Out Of the world, at all events" says
Ethel, indifferently.
well, let us go" agrees Florence re-
signedly.
So together they all start once more
for the old tower. AS they reach the
stone steps Sir Adrian says laughingly
to Lady LaughtOn:
Nov, what do you expect to see? A
ghOst-a phantom? And in what shape,
what guise?"
"a skeleton" answers Lady Laugh
ton, returning his laugh; and with
the words the door is pushed open, and
they enter the room en- npUSSe.
The sunlight is stealing in through
the narrow window holes and family
lighting up the dismal room.
What is that in yOnder corner, the
very corner where Sir Adrian's almost
lifeless body had been found? Is this
trick a delusion of the brain? What
is this thing huddled together, lying in
8 heap-a CHASTITY, ragged, filthy heap,
hnTOrn fhnJ1 fp1.y,Itin1 nd 1U
does this charnel-houSe smell infect
their nostriIs? They stagger. Even
the strong men grow pale and faint, |
for there, before them, gaunt, awful, |
unmistakable, lies skeleton!
Lady Laught0n7s testing words have
come true-a fieshless corpse indeed |
meets their stricken gaze!
Sir Adrian, having hurriedly asked |
one Of the men of the party to remove |
Lady Dynecourt and her friends, he |
and Captain RingWood proceed to ex-
anime the grewsome body that lies up
on the floor; yet, though they profess |
to each other total ignorance Of what
it can be, there is in their hearts a
miserable certainty that appalls them.
Is this to be the end of the mystery? |
Truly had spoken Ethel Ringwood |
when she had alluded to Arthur Dyne- /
court as being "Out of the world" for |
it is his remains they are bending over,
as few letters scattered about testify
only too plainly.
Caught in the living grave he had
destined for his cousin was Arthur |
Dynecourt on the night of Sir Adrian's |
release. The lamp had dropped from
his hand in the first horror of his dis
cOvery that his victim had escaped him. |
Then followed the closing Of the fatal |
lock and his inSensibility.
On recovering from his swoon, he |
had no doubt endured a hundred-fold
more fortunes than had the innocent
Sir Adrian, as his conscience must
have been increasingly racking and
tearing him.
And not too soon either could the
miserable end have come. Every pang
he had designed for his victim was his |
Not one was spared! Cold and hunger
and the raging fever of thirst were his,
and withal hopelessr.sss more intol- |
cradle than aught elsa hopelessness |
that must have grown in strength as
the interminable days went by.
And then came death II awful lin |
gering death, whilst the loathsome |
rats had finished the work which star |
walton and death had begun, and now |
all that remained of Arthur Dynecourt |
ITO Il OF hon lcf